Postecoglou, who led Brisbane Roar to the past two championships, said if it was up to him, his former club would be fiercely protesting the AFC's decision to strip them of automatic Asian Champions League (ACL) qualification.

Instead, the only Australian club granted direct entry to next year's Asian competition is last season's minor premiers Central Coast, after the AFC last week announced changed criteria.

Previously, the Roar, as reigning champions, would also have been guaranteed a spot, but now must win a qualifying match.

Postecoglou said on Thursday if he was still leading Brisbane, he would want to boycott that game.

"I'd be pushing for it," Postecoglou told reporters.

"I just don't get it.

"We put blood, sweat and tears into everything to try to win a competition.

"What's that competition? I'm not really sure at the moment.

"I'm not sure who's going to get acknowledged at the end of the year ... we're in a race at the moment and I can't see the finish line."

Postecoglou said Football Federation Australia's (FFA) acceptance of the decision left A-League clubs confused as to what was the top honour - the championship or premiers' plate.

But Roar general manager Sean Dobson was happy to abide by the changes.

"I understand Ange's comments but, at the end of the day, you have to get down to the job in hand - and that is maintaining our momentum as back-to-back champions," Dobson said.

"We need to take our experience from the last ACL campaign and build on it.

"If there is an extra hurdle, we should be robust enough to handle that."

New FFA chief executive David Gallop offered only limited support for Postecoglou, saying while also disappointed, he wouldn't back a Roar withdrawal.

"There is no suggestion that we will be pulling out of the game," Gallop said.

Adelaide coach John Kosmina, whose club has been Australia's most successful in the ACL, said he had no problem if the premiers' plate became the ultimate domestic prize.

"I'm old school and old - I like the premiership," Kosmina said.

"That is important, if you're consistent over 27 matches."

Kosmina added it was up to the AFC how they wanted to run their competition.

But Postecoglou said that shouldn't stretch to defining what constituted A-League champions.

"In my mind, the champion for our league has always been the one who wins the grand final," Postecoglou said.

"I am totally bemused as to how we can take somebody else's definition of that."